Letters

WHO IS THE ENEMY NOW?

"How can we counter the ever intensifying climate of terror? Not by military means. The war in Iraq is proof of that." ROBERT R. NEWELL Nellysford, Va.

In today's terror-struck world, war has evolved far beyond one nation fighting another [March 29]. Now a globally dispersed band of Islamist assassins, worshippers of death, blow themselves to bits along with as many innocent victims as possible. The civilized people of the world, regardless of nationality, must devise brand-new strategies for dealing with crazed terrorists. The U.S.'s unilateral actions seem only to be inflaming them. The U.N.'s practices of negotiation, inquiry, mediation and judicial settlement won't work against deranged extremists who hide behind religion, nor will sending troops to trouble spots. The U.N., our only global instrument of peace and sanity, must reinvent itself. ROBERT L. WOLKE Pittsburgh, Pa.

How can we counter the ever intensifying climate of terror? Not by military means. The war in Iraq is proof of that. Using armed force to retaliate, in fact, breeds more terrorists. Why not look at the real roots of this terrorism? The radical Islamists hate us because we are in their countries, owing to America's increasing need for oil. If the U.S. had a Department of Alternative Energy, we might someday be able to eliminate the Department of Homeland Security. ROBERT R. NEWELL Nellysford, Va.

Thousands of battle-hardened American men and women will emerge from the war against terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq and be the better for their undertaking. Combat changes a person's perspective, priorities and motivation. After one experiences armed conflict, petty concerns that once seemed to be of the greatest importance can rightfully turn into mundane annoyances. Soon those brave Americans will come home and begin reshaping their country. Calling on past experiences, they will set aside trivial issues and do what is right for all Americans, not unlike the generation that fought in World War II. J. SCOTT BOWMAN Phoenix, Ariz.

Not understanding your enemy can lead to defeat. We will have little success in overcoming terrorists unless we better comprehend their motives. The Afghanistan war was a proper reaction to 9/11, but the Iraq invasion must have pleased Osama bin Laden, as it brought greater numbers to his side. The U.S. is not safer as a result of the Iraq war; we are in greater danger. Bin Laden's active followers may be a small minority of Arabs and Muslims, but a small minority of 1 billion people can still be a huge number. Our free and open society in the U.S. is very vulnerable. Our government's counterproductive, belligerent attitude must be changed one way or another. JOSEPH C. GRASSO Toledo, Ohio

The ruthless invasion of Iraq not only has cost thousands of innocent lives and billions of dollars but also has been a model of the failure of the war on terrorism. The invasion angered the Arab world and made the recruitment of terrorists much easier. The money supporting the war could be much better spent on achieving homeland security--for example, protecting nuclear reactors and transportation systems. The war has also taken resources away from destroying al-Qaeda. These terrorists have been able to regroup, evolve and continue creating new cells. How can Americans continue to support a President who has mishandled this urgent situation? RICHARD KAZINY Evanston, Ill.

Your article on the new generation of terrorist groups stated that "the terrorist threat is evolving--and getting scarier" but noted that "billions of dollars in intelligence expenditures have made the U.S. more effective than ever at hunting and pre-empting terrorists." There is no reason to believe that those who hate us are winning. The U.S. today is more prepared for attacks, and we are much safer now than in the past. We can never forget the events of 9/11, but we should put terrorism on the back burner and let the government worry about it. I'm tired of staring at pictures of guys with turbans and beards in your magazine. Shift your focus. MIHIR UPADHYAYA La Mirada, Calif.

IS THIS SOME KIND OF PROTECTION RACKET?

During my morning commute, I read "How We Got Homeland Security Wrong," about how the government allocates funds to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks [March 29]. After I walked through Grand Central Station, I entered New York City's crowded transit system and rode past the site of the World Trade Center and the Federal Reserve building, finally arriving at my job in the city's financial district. So I was amazed to read that the government has allotted $61 a person to make the prairies of Wyoming safe from terrorists and less than $25 for each New Yorker. KEVIN MCNAMEE Irvington, N.Y.

As an objective Canadian, it is easy for me to see how homeland-security money could have been better allocated on the basis of the risk of a terrorist attack rather than most of it being appropriated according to each state's population. If Americans are going to waste money on low-risk areas, they may as well send the money to their allies abroad, such as Spain. It would probably do more good there. NEIL GOODMAN Vancouver, B.C.

In addition to practicing financial buffoonery in homeland-security payments, this new bureaucracy has succeeded only in providing an excuse for other federal and state agencies to remain unaccountable for their ineptitude and lack of preparedness. Money is not the answer to security problems when we don't even have a legitimate strategy. The homeland-security plan is another good example of how the U.S. government is too big, too slow and too unimaginative to do anything about terrorism except throw money at it. It's like watching a 900-lb. gorilla fight off a swarm of gnats with a sledgehammer. THOM WILDER Laguna Niguel, Calif.

MISSIONARY MAN

The influential pastor Rick Warren, author of the best-selling The Purpose-Driven Life [March 29], may be filling formerly half-empty pews, but I am concerned about one of his five "guiding purposes"--that a person must "act as God's missionary in the world." That purpose absolves people of meeting the needs of their families and church congregations. Instead, they focus on saving the faraway poor and oppressed. Ministering to strangers is often easier and more exciting than helping those we know personally, but many people, especially the elderly, are denied the nurturing love they desperately need because charity no longer begins in the home or local church. BETTE DEWING New York City

It was refreshing to read of a humble man whose message has the potential to improve many people's lives. Warren certainly gave my life positive purpose. DAVID WILSON Los Angeles

STILL A STAND-UP GUY

Thank you for the interview with comedian and actor George Carlin [March 29]. The man continues to evolve as he delights and offends everyone, everywhere, equally, reminding us all to lighten up. I consider myself a good, spiritual person, but I could no longer stomach the hypocrisy I found in many organized church services. If Carlin ever became an evangelist, I would definitely join his flock. MARY HARRINGTON Fayetteville, N.Y.

Carlin is not smart or funny, just outrageous for the sake of outrageousness. He wants to be known as edgy but is still coasting on his tired 30-year-old Seven Dirty Words routine. Even the title of his book, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops?, which Carlin says will offend three religious groups at once, is no more original than the old bumper sticker NUKE THE GAY WHALES FOR JESUS. STEVE GORMAN Redmond, Ore.

ABOUT THAT ELECTION

It is tragic that in exercising their right to vote, the Spaniards have given new life to a monster [March 29]. The terrorists have the skill to pervert free speech and democracy for their own aims--proof again that we must never underestimate them. DUNCAN RUSSELL Greensboro, N.C.

It is disturbing that terrorist attacks can change the outcome of a national election, as apparently happened in Spain. Anticipating the U.S. presidential election in November, security officials are practically holding their breath. Using bombs to manipulate an election is a scary thing. If the terrorists want President Bush out of office, then he must be doing something right. If they didn't see Bush as a threat to their existence, they wouldn't care. CAITLIN SHORTSLEF Union Springs, N.Y.

To ignore the demands of terrorists and vote your conscience is not appeasement. That is why the Shi'ites signed Iraq's new interim constitution and why Spaniards voted in a new government. DAVE STALLARD Cumming, Ga.

The bomb attacks simply added to a predictable defeat for the governing party. If Spaniards had truly supported the war in Iraq, not even 1,000 al-Qaeda bombs would have affected the vote. ANTONI CONESA Wembley, England

The Spanish government's disinformation was a major cause for the defeat of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar and his party. First among all the causes that provoked the vote against Aznar, however, was his arrogance in defying the will of his people, who did not want to get involved in the Iraq war. The government must stop underestimating the capacity of its citizens to decide who should steer the country. No more lies. The Spanish people are too wise to allow their destiny to be manipulated. ANDRES ROMERO NIETO Badajoz, Spain

For once in my life, I felt an enormous solidarity with Spain. We Portuguese have nurtured antagonism toward our neighbor for several centuries. But on March 11, I suffered along with the people of Madrid, feeling like a citizen of the Iberian Peninsula rather than of a country that split from Spain in 1143. Still, I cannot understand how the Spanish people could allow their election to be manipulated by terrorists. The Spaniards have taught us some brave lessons about dealing with ETA terrorists. Though the probability of being killed on the roads of Portugal is thousands of times greater than in a terrorist attack here, people don't give up driving. I hope the terrorists will not prevail. SOFIA DE LANDERSET Lisbon

Despite accusations that the Spanish are appeasing terrorists by withdrawing their soldiers from Iraq, I believe that the incoming Prime Minister, Jose Zapatero, simply thinks the troops can be more effectively deployed back home, guarding Spain's railways and airports. KEVIN L. MAHONEY Colleferro, Italy

THE ELUSIVE TRUTH ABOUT HAITI

The aftermath of ousted president Jean-Bertrand Aristide's flight from Haiti raises an interesting question about American credibility [March 15]. Aristide claims that the U.S. forced him to leave the country; U.S. officials deny it. I would like to believe the U.S. but recall Bush's statements on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, which turned out to be far from the truth. In the case of Haiti, I accept the U.S. version of events but wish I were able to do so without thinking of the boy who cried wolf. No one believes a liar, even when he is telling the truth. ANDREW THORNE Dahlenburg, Germany

TAIWAN: DODGING THE BULLET

A would-be assassin might not have killed President Chen Shui-bian [March 29], but the shooter still managed to gravely wound Taiwan's democracy and deepen the divisions within Taiwanese society. If Chen staged the assassination attempt, he won a close race but lost his credibility with voters. I no longer trust and support Chen and his party. The greatest losers are not Chen's political opponents but the Taiwanese people. If this turmoil cannot be settled fairly, Taiwanese politics may become chaotic. SONG XIAOWEN Pingzhen City, Taiwan

Independence for Taiwan is a vexing issue for a variety of reasons. An often overlooked but profound problem concerns the ethnic groups living together on the island. The Democratic Progressive Party and the Kuomintang vie for votes from the Hakka, Taiwanese, mainlanders, aboriginal people and other groups, with generous promises of recognition and, in some cases, special treatment. But neither party has yet been able to define a common identity that all the people here can share. In Taiwan, identity comes before independence. PAUL OLIVER Chunglin, Taiwan

Taiwan's independence movement was a defining issue in the presidential election. But if the people of Taiwan truly wish to declare themselves non-Chinese, they will have to stop speaking the Chinese language and will need to pretend that the mainland is just a place far, far away that never played a significant role in the history of Taiwan. WANG YINCHU Singapore

NAGGING QUESTION

In his viewpoint "The New Terrorist Threat" [March 22], former presidential security adviser Richard Clarke wrote, "[M]aybe we should be asking why the terrorists hate us." I wonder why this question is not raised more often. In my view, we can stop terrorism only if we get to its root causes. President Bush's war on terrorism will not eradicate the problem but nurture it. For every terrorist killed or arrested, a new one will emerge. We should drop all the rhetoric about the war on terrorism. Such a war cannot be won, as there is no clearly defined enemy. The so-called war on drugs shows that all too well. HEINZ KRAENZLEIN Velbert, Germany

UNPREDICTABLE HERO

Hooray for Johnny Depp! I read every word of your story about "Hollywood's most unusual star" [MARCH 15]. Many of us fortysomethings, who were yuppies during the 1980s, grew up watching the young Depp. We admired him for being rebellious, idealistic and nonconformist yet totally committed to his craft. Even then, Depp had something special. RAUL H. DADO Vientiane, Laos